Front Line is gravely concerned following reports of the deterioration in the health of Mutabar Tadjibaeva, human rights defender and Chairperson of the human rights organisation “Plammenoe Serdtse” (Fiery Hearts Club) in Ferghana city. Mutabar Tajibaeva was arrested on 7 October 2005 and subsequently sentenced to 8 years in prison on 6 March 2006. She is currently being detained at Tashkent Prison. Front Line has previously expressed grave concern at the continued detention of Mutabar Tadjibaeva and her deteriorating health, most recently on 28 March 2007.
On 6 July 2007, members of Mutabar Tadjibaeva's family, including her brother and her daughter attempted to visit her at Tashkent Prison, but were informed by prison officials that she was being held in solitary confinement as punishment for violating prison rules and would not be able to meet with them. Relatives of Mutabar Tajibaeva have been denied the right to visit her in detention since 9 January 2007, despite numerous attempts to bring her medication and food, which the prison officials have allegedly refused to give to her. Her family has allegedly been told that her health is deteriorating and that she is in urgent need of medical assistance as she suffers from hight blood pressure and is suffering from kidney-related illness caused by the cold conditions in solitary confinement. Despite such reports, delegates from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) have been prevented from seeing her to provide medical treatment.
Mutabar Tadjibaeva has been in detention since 28 March 2005, seven months of which were spent in solitary confinement. She was also held in a psychiatric unit for mentally ill and drug-addicted persons, located in a women's detention centre in the Mirabad district of Tashkent.
Front Line is extremely concerned that Mutabar Tadjibaeva is not receiving adequate medical treatment and believes she has been detained and subjected to ill-treatment due to her legitimate and peaceful activities in defense of human rights.
